Combined baseball bat rack and carrier



June 9, 1959 L. J. ARNOLD, JR 2,889,863

comsmso BASEBALL'BAT RACK AND CARRIER Filed Aug. 12. 1955 o J o o o o o o INVENTOR. LO/S JOHN -HF\NOLD J/P.

BY ulxlwzmwanscfiwedmfldamm 071% H TT'ORNEYS United States Patent M COMBINED BASEBALL BAT RACK AND CARRIER Lois John Arnold, Jr., Hutchinson, Minn. Application August 12, 1955, Serial No. 528,090

1 Claim. (Cl. 150-15) This invention relates to baseball bats. More particularly, it relates to devices for holding baseball bats in neatly arranged positions and facilitating carrying of the same.

During a baseball game, the bat is frequently thrown on the ground by the batter as he proceeds to run the bases, or return to the dugout. The bat-boy then picks up the bat and arranges it in a row side-by-side with other bats. The next time the batter comes to bat, he must select his particular bat from a large number of bats; in so doing, he often seizes the wrong bat. When there is no bat-boy the bats generally become disarranged. When the game is completed these bats are ordinarily thrown into a sack, and in so doing they are brought into contact with each other, often times marring their outer surface. When placed in such a bag, it is difiicult to carry the bats for they are bulky and unwieldy. My invention is directed toward eliminating these disadvantages.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved device for holding and carrying baseball bats.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved combined baseball bat rack and carrier which will facilitate maintaining baseball bats in proper order and position for easier and quicker locations by thebatter, and will facilitate transportation of the same.

Another object is to provide a combined baseball bat rack and carrier which will enable the baseball bats to be arranged in a compact unit which can be easily carried and will facilitate quick and ready location of any particular bat when needed.

Another object is to provide a combined baseball bat rack and carrier which will arrange the bats in groups in which the bats are separately identified and positioned, and which will enable the groups to be arranged in a compact, rectangularly shaped unit to facilitate transportation of the same and storage in small compass.

Another object is to provide a combined baseball bat rack and carrier which can be utilized throughout the game for maintaining the bats in an orderly arrangement so that they may be more readily located by the batter, and at the end of the game can be quickly assembled into a compact unit which is especially well-adapted for being carried.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a plan veiw of one embodiment of my invention shown in extended position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in carrying position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one end portion of one embodiment of my invention with the baseball bats in their respective pockets and with the side edge 2,889,863 Patented June 9;, 1959 portion adjacent the handles folded over the handles preparatory to folding the unit; and 1 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same embodiment showing the sides thereof not viewable in Fig. 2.

One embodiment of my invention, as shown in Figs.- 1-5, may include an elongated flexible sheet 25 rectangular in shape and preferably formed from canvas material. This sheet 25 has an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 27 and side edges 28 and 29. It also has opposite end portions 30 and 31. Secured to the upper'surface 26 is a plurality, of elongated pockets 32. These pockets 32 have closed end portions 32a and open ends 32b.. The closed ends 32a are disposed adjacent the side edge 29, while the open ends 32b terminate midway between the side edges 28 and 29. As best shown in Fig. 1, these pockets 32 are parallel and extend transversely of the sheet 25. They are secured along their length to the top surface 26. These pockets may be made of another piece ofcanvas or other suitable material.

As best shown in Fig.. 1, the pockets 32 are arranged in four separate groups, groups A, B, C and D, for the purpose of facilitating reference thereto. These pockets have. been identifiedthrough the use of the numerals l-24. It will be noted that the pockets 1-24 are arranged in a row extending longitudinally of the sheet 25.

It will also be noted that the respective groups are spaced.

from each other, and that group D is spaced from group Ca distance approximately equal or slightly greater than:

the'width of .one of the pockets. The spacing between group B and C is approximately equal to one and onehalf the width of one of the pockets. The spacing between groups. A and B is approximately equal to twice the width of one of the pockets-32. This spacing is important in-order that when the unit is properly folded,

fore can bestored in smaller compass.

the resulting unitwill be rectangular in shape and there-- The sheet 25 is of suflicient width so .that when the Secured to' the side edge portion 28 is a plurality of,

grommets 34 which may be utilized to hang the entire unit on a board, wall or similar structure during the progress of the game.

Secured to the portion of the lower portion 27 which carries the pockets 1-6, is a pair of straps 35 and 36 with adjusting buckles 37 and 38. Each of the straps 35 and 36 has a round leather grip handle 39 or 40 secured thereto. The free ends of the straps 35 and 36 each carry a snap 41 or 42 at their free end to snap into a metal ring 43 or 44 which are carried 'by the portion of the lower surface 27 to which the pockets 7-12 are secured.

In use, the sheet 25 is extended as shown in Fig. 1. It may be stretched out upon the ground or may be suspended through the use of the grommets 34 against an upright wall or other surface. The bats of the respective players are maintained within the pockets l-24 and each player will quickly recall the respective pocket in which his particular bat is kept. When he finishes batting, the bat-boy can immediately pick up the bat and place it in the proper pocket and the batter, when he next comes to bat, can quickly locate the bats without any delay. Thus the bat will at all times be kept in a properly arranged position and there will be no inconvenience or delay whenever a batter desires to utilize his bat. Furthermore, the possibility that the batter will seize the wrong bat will be practically eliminated.

When the game is over and all of the bats are in their respective pockets, the bat-boy merely folds the side edge portion 28 over the handles of the bats 33, as shown in Fig. 4. He then folds group D over group C so that it will lie in superimposed relation thereto. He then folds groups C and D into superimposed relation 'to group B. He then swings group Anpwardly and-over to superimposed relation to all of groups B, C and D, as best shown in Fig. 2. He then brings the snaps 41 and 42 around to a position adjacent the rings 43 and 44 andsnap's them into position. The resulting unit will be generally rectangular inshape and will be in very small compass. The carrying of the unit is facilitated through the handles 39 and It will be noted that the bats are completely encased within the unit and that the entire folding operation can be accomplished within a matter-of seconds. 7

It will also be noted that after the bats have been arranged in this manner and transported to'theloca'tion for the next game, the bats will be arranged as soon as the unit is unfolded, and there is no additional work or inconvenience involved in arranging the bats, as was formerly required. On the contrary, the batter can immediately and quickly select the particular bat he desires.

It should be noted that the rectangular shape of the unit when folded, is advantageous for use in travelling. The rectangular shape of the unit enables 'the supply of bats to be kept within an area of small compass, and at the same time permits them to be maintained in a predetermined relation so that they can be quickly located and they will not damage each other by jostling against each other during transportation.

'Thus it can be seen that I have -provided a novel and improved baseball bat rack and carrier which will greatly facilitate the keeping of the baseball bats in a predetermined relation, and will also facilitate carrying of the bats and storing them in small compass. My bat rack and carrier is simple to manufacture and can be manufactured of relatively inexpensive material.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: V

A combined baseball bat rack and carrier comprising an elongated flexible sheet having opposed surfaces and longitudinal and transverse edges, a plurality of spaced adjacent and parallel elongated pockets extending transversely of said sheet and secured along their length to one surface thereof and having an open and a closed end and being constructed and arranged to hold bats parallel to the transverse side edges of said sheet, the closed end of said pockets being disposed adjacent one longitudinal side edge of said sheet, said pockets extending therefrom toward the opposite longitudinal side edge of said sheet, the length of said pockets being substantially less than one-half the transverse length of said sheet and being arranged in a row extending longitudinally of said sheet and divided into a first group adjacent one transverse edge of said sheet, a second group adjacent said first group, a third group adjacent said second group and a fourth group adjacent the other transverse edge of said sheet and adjacent said third group, said groups being spaced from each other, the spacing between said first and second groups being greater than the width of one of said pockets and less than the spacing between said second and third groups, the'spacing between said third and fourth groups being greater than the spacing between said second and third groups, a plurality of spaced grommets secured to and extending through said sheet closely adjacent the opposite longitudinal side edge of said sheet, and securing means attached to the other surface of the sheet opposite the third and fourth groups and having carrying means thereon, 'Whereby one longitudinal side edge of said sheet is folded inwardly over the terminal end portions of the handles of the bats prior to folding said sheet to complete- 1y encase the bats within said sheet, and said first group is folded into direct superimposed relationship over said second group and thereafter said first and second groups folded into superimposed relation to said third group, and said fourth group folded upwardly and into opposite and superimposed relation to all three of the remaining groups to thereby form a compact generally rectangular unit with all groups of bats being directly superimposed over each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 607,130 Rapp July 12, 1898 1,094,009 Parkhurst Apr. 21, 1914 1,171,896 Simpson Feb. 15, 1916 1,870,299 Strelitz Aug. 9, 1932 2,158,971 Stratton May 16, 1939 2,218,892 Ratzlaflf Oct. 22, 1940 

